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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

-W. C. FARNUM. MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRINGS.

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W. C. FARNUM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRINGS. No. 392,598. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. G. FARNUM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRINGS.

No. 392,598. Patented Nov. 13, 1888 v WITNESSES: INYg-JNTSR:

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(No Mbdel.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.-

W. G. PARNUM, v MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRINGS. No. 392,598. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

WITNESSES: I INYENIEIR.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.-

' W. G. FARNUM.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRINGS. No. 392,598. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.-

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WILLIAM G. FARNUM, OF ARLINGTON, VERMONT.

MACHINE FOR MAKING SPIRAL STEEL SPRBNGS.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,598, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed July 20, 1888. Serial No. 280,523. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM G. FARNUM, of Arlington, in the county of Bennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Spiral Steel Springs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying five sheets of drawings, constitutes a specification.

This machine is designed for making steel springs from a bar of metal previously cut to the proper length and shape by coiling the same in spiral form around a mandrel and discharging the same therefrom when completed. It is specially adapted to the making of spiral springs to be used on cars and locomotives.

The construction and mode of operation of this invention is shown in the drawings, whereiii- Figure 1 exhibits a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the left end of the machine seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section of my machine, taken on the line x :20 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the right end of the machine as seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 10 w of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the machine, taken on line 9 3 of Fig. 1, but showing the parts arranged to coil a spring in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 8 shows a horizontal longitudinal section through the axis of the windingsliaft. Figs. 9 and 11 are views of opposite sides of the cam-plate 10 on the winding-shaft. Fig. 10 is a diametrical section through the same. Fig. 12 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 13 is an edge View of a reversible wedge-cam, which is attachable to the seat m of cam-plate 10. Figs. 14 and 15 are respectively face and edge views of the lug ring. Figs. 16 and 17 are respectively plan and edge views of the hand-lever, which is brought into action to discharge the spring from the mandrel on which it is formed. Figs.

18 and 19 are respectively side and end views of the winding-mandrel. Figs. 21, 20, and 22 are respectively side and end views of a sleeve having one end shaped to correspond with the spiral pitch of the spring and adapted to slip over the end of mandrel on which the spring is formed. Fig. 23 is a detail View of the device provided for holding the trip-levcr,which controls the action in part of cam-plate 10 in position. Fig. 24; is a detail view of one of the facing-jaws of the crimping-lever 13.

The apparatus is mounted on a suitable frame, 2, and may be divided into twogroups-- viz., the rolls and crimping-levers, which accomplish the bending of the spring-bar with the gearing and apparatus requisite to drive the same, and the feeding, coiling, and discharging devices with the gearing and appliancesappropriate to operate such parts.

The first group will be found illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, i, and 7, and consists of two rollers, 1'2 12, of similar form, arranged and adapted so that the bar for the spring will be caught and carried around between them and the mandrel 17, as seen in Fig. 4.. The rolls 12 are mounted on shafts 27 27, each of which carries a gear, 28, at its opposite end, both of which are driven by a common pinion, 47, on shaft 46. This shaft carries pulley 51,whereby it is driven, at one end, and the tappet-cam 48, Fig. 7, at the other. Cam 48 coacts with the impact-facets E E ofthe crimping-levers 13 13.

These levers are pivoted on bearings shoal-- dered on the tubular shells 73 and 74, which are hinged by means of arms 3 3 and 4. 4 to the shaft 46, so as to swing concentrically around said shaft. The position and adjustment of shells 73 and 74 are regulated by the togglearms 6 and 7. Each of these arms consists of a ring or collar, 6, which enwraps shell 73 or 74 at one end and has the opposite end connected with the end of the slide H. This slide is provided with the nut 22,through which the screw 21 works. It slides in ways 78 of the frame 2, and thescrew 21 is workedbyahandwheel, 20. By running the not forward or back the rolls 12 12 are brought closer to mandrel 17, or farther therefrom, as may be desired.

The crimping-levers 13 13 are counterparts of each other and perform similar functions. One of them acts in making springs with a righthand coil and the other a left-hand. They are made with a water-conduit, c 61, through them,and when in use and liable to becomehot acirculation of water, as seen in Fig. 7, may be kept up through them to keep them cool. These levers are actuated by the tappetcam 48, as before stated, so that a rocking mo tion of the jaws is constantly maintained in use. They are also faced with steel jaws 15 15, which have an upturned flange or lip, K, as seen in Fig. 2-1. They are made of steel and each is notched, as she wn, where the bar passes under it, the notch being of a shape to fit the shape of the bar to be bent. As many springs are made from bars oval or rectangular in cross-section and are bent or coiled edgewise, it is sometimes difficult to manipulate them under the rolls; but by the aid of the notch the bar is firmly guided and supported in its proper position while being fed to the roll, and is also firmly held in the act of bending. There are several of the jaw-facings provided, which accommodate the various shapes of bars and the variable diameter of the springs. The water-way or receptacle 60 may be perforated, as shown, at the bottom of cavity 60,whereby water may escape and flow to and over the mandrel and collar 1.8,ashereinafter more partioularly shown.

The ceiling or winding devices are principally shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8. They consist of a hollow spindle,5,which revolves in the journal stands or bearings 82 82 of frame 2 and carries at its outer end the driving-gear S, which receives its motion from cone-drum 1 through intermediate gears,5et and 55. This spindle is conically bored at its opposite end, so as to leave a tapering socket for the reception of the tapering shank of mandrel 17 The rear end of mandrel 17 is threaded,so that the rod 53 may be screwed thereon, as shown at h. The external end of rod 53 protrudes beyond the end of spindle 5, as shown, andis mortised for the reception of key a, by means of which the mandrel 17 is firmly seated in its socket. These mandrels are of various sizes to fit springs of variable diameters. Upon spindle 5 the flanged sleeve is fitted so as to either slide or revolve thereon. The flange 9 is provided with two radial ribs, 1' and a", which fit corresponding slots, d and d, of collar 18, Fig. 20. Collars 18 are of different diameters to fit the different mandrels. The spiral shape of the end of collar 18 extends about half-way around it and terminates at the shoulder K. This spiral form is to aid in giving the rod from which the spring is made a proper spiral lead during the process of winding, as will more fully appear further on. Collars 18 are slipped over mandrel 17, as shown, so that the slots and ribs shall coincide. Upon the opposite end of sleeve 75 the cam-plate 10 is rigidly fixed. This plate carries two rolls, 0 0, fitted in opposite edges of'the plate, as shown in Fig. 9. These rolls are virtually lugs,whereby the revolution of the plate 10 is arrested whenever one of them encounters a wing of the rollingdog 32. On the side of this plate toward flange 9 are two diametrically-opposite cam-notches, g g. These cam-notches co-operate with a friction-roll, 39, affiXed to a transverse horizontal lever, 38, Fig. 6, which in turn is pivoted at one end to the frame at F. This lever is free to swing on said pivot, and has a cord, 12, attached to its free end at 4.1,which passes over pulley 76, and from the end of which depends a weight. (Seen in Fig. 1.) The action of this weight at all times tends to hold the roll 39in contact with the side of the cam-plate 10. On the opposite side of plate 10 a concentric ring, 16, is fitted, so as to partially rotate about sleeve 75 and in a recess in the face of plate 10. One edge thereof is cut away, as seen in Figs. 6 and 1 1-, so as to permit its position to be rotated or shifted according as the machine is to be run for making right or left hand coils. Its adjustment is determined by one or the other of the shoulders I. t striking the pin A. This ring has two radial ribs, 2' t, upon opposite sides of the axis, which are adapted to cooperate with block 35 on lever 36.

Between plate 10 and journal'bearing 82 is the cam-clutch 49. This clutch slides on a feather on spindle, 5, and is provided with teeth a a, which engage with corresponding teeth, a a, on the end of sleeve 75, as seen in Fig. 8. It is also provided with two V-shaped cams,which act against one end of block 35 to push the spring off the mandrel, as hereinafter more fully specified. Each of the V-shaped cams is chambered and carries an expansive spiral spring, as shown at e c, Fig. 8, which exerts a force tending to throw the clutch into engagement with its fellow when not impeded.

The devices for regulating the action of the plate 10 as to starting, &c., are connected with rock-shaft 34. This carries at its lefthand end a crank-head, 30, from the extremity of the arm of which a hub projects, of which the details appear in Fig. 23. This hub is chambered for the reception of the sliding post 0, which has a button or flange on its inner end at q, and is operated by a sprial spring, D,which acts to force the post in.- The head of it is bored for the tripping-bar 29, which is confined in place by a set-screw. The end of the hub 30 is transversely grooved 'in two places to receive the bar 29. These grooves cross each other at an angle, so that byinverting the crank from the position of Fig. 4. to that of Fig. 7, and also inverting the position of the tripping-bar correspondingly, its arm will fall in the other groove. The lever 31 is provided for operating the rock-shaft by hand. The tripping-bar is provided with fingers 62, with which the coil engages in making its first turn, and by means of which the crank 30 is forced baekwardly and shaft 34 is rotated.

The guide 241-, for conducting the bar to the rolls, is erected on an adj nstable slide, 25, which in turn is bolted to the frame by bolt 26.

The devices for forcing the finished spring off the mandrel when completed consist of the block 35,attached to lever 36, which is mounted on sliding bar 37, and is manipulated by the handle 19. Block 35 is of such length that when the sleeveclntch stands with the open intervals between its cams opposite the lugs it, by throwing back handle 19, the block will be raised into place in such interval, so that one end thereof will be acted on by the clutchcams and the other will impinge againstlug t. Shaft 37 slides in bearings in the frame as the clutch-cams by their revolution crowd block against plate 10. Plate 10 is locked in posltion normally by means of one or the other of the wings of dog 32 bearing against its periphery under the influence of the weight of the counter-balance 33.

The speed of the winding-shaft 5 may be regulated by shifting the driving-belt on conedrum 1, which is also driven by another corresponding cone-drum in the ordinary way.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The blanks or billets of bar-steel to form the springs arefirst prepared of proper length and with the ends scarfed properly, so as to coil up and leave the spring or coil with a square end. The bar is then passed through the guide 24 and under upperjaw, 15, of the crimpinglever opposite the notch 65, Fig. 1. This notch in form corresponds to the shape of the bar acted on, so as to prevent the bar rolling or twisting under its action. As the end of the bar is caught between the upper roll and the mandrel 17, the tendency would be in drawing it in for the free end of the bar to fly upward; but the lever 13. coming down onto it, bends it down to the form of the mandrel by a series of strokes, so that it passes around to the second roll bent to the proper form. The scarfofthe bar comes opposite to the bevel of the collar 18, and the first half-tnrn is wound squarely around the mandrel or without spiral lead, being guided by the squared part of collar 18 until the end of the blank passes around and comes in contact with the end of the tripping-bar 29, which is thereby crowded back, thereby rocking shaft 34L and throwing dog 32 out from under roll of plate 10, which is then revolved in the same direction as spindle by means of roll 39 on lever 38 crowding against one side of the under camnotclng, of plate 10, as shown in Fig. 2, under the intluencc of weight attached to cord 42, until it has rotated plate and ring 16 far enough to carry lug t on ring 16 forward and out of contact with the end of block 35, with which it had been previously engaged. Clutchblock 35, under the action of springs e e, Fig. 8, is then moved up, so that the teeth a a engage with the corresponding teeth, 1) o, of the flanged sleeve 75. Positive rotation is thus communicated to sleeve 75, and thereby to collar 18. An endwise movement to sleeve 75 and all its appurtenances is also simultaneously communicated by reason of the wedge-cam 11.1 being rotated over against roll 43,whereby the inclined or beveled end of collar 18 is crowded against the bar. The effect of this is to bend red at the point of the end of the collar and give it a lead in the direction of the spiral wind ofthe body of the spring. This also brings the beveled end of collar 18 around be tween the rolls 12andlug i,against theendof the clutch-block 35,and its further rotation crowds the clutch 49 back out of engagement with the teeth on cylinder 75, and at the same instant roll 0 of plate 10 is caught by dog 32 and its further rotation stopped, dog 32 returning to its first position under the action of counterpoise 33, Fig. 2. Here the plate 10 and dog remain stationary while the spiral part of the spring is being wound and until all but about three-fourths of a coil of the bar remain nnwound. At this stage rod 31 is then lifted. which rocks shaft 34 and throws dog 32 out of engagement with roll 0 of plate 10, when, under the action of the weighted cord, it makes another half-revolution. At the commencement of the last movement wedge-cam 11 runs off roll 43 and sleeve 75 is drawn back, together with collar 18, to its former position. This permits the remaining part of the bar to be wound without spiral lead, thus leaving the end of the spring square.

The finished spring is pushed off mandrel 17 by pulling hand-lever 19, which raises clutchblock carrier 36 and carries block 35 into engagement with edge or face of cam 49, and the block, with its carrier 36 and rod or shaft 37,

are moved against cam plate 10, pushing sleeve 75 and collar 18 along spindle 5 and against the last-wound coil of spring until the spring drops off the end of mandrel 17. The handlever is then released, and the clutchblock drops by its gravity out of engagement with the cam-edges 0M9, whereupon weighted cord 42 draws sleeve 75 and collar 18 back to their original position to wind anew spring. Then it is desired to coil springs in the opposite di rection, the crank-head 30 is inverted and tripping-rod 29 is arranged as shownin Fig. 7. The guide-eye 2-1. is dropped, as shown, to receive the bar. Dog is rotated so as to bring one wing to act against plate 10 above instead of below its center of rotation. \Vedgecam 11 is reversed, so as to bring its thick end in the former position of its thin end. Ring 16 is turned so that the other end of its peripheral gap shall strike the pin or lug. \Veight 33 is turned on shaft 34-, so that its gravity will act on the other side of the shaft to hold dog 32 against the edgeof plate 10.

The crimping-levers, which in use get vhot from their close proximity to the iron or steel, are each made hollow, so that a current of water may be passed through them for the pn rpose of cooling them. This is shown in Fig. 7, where water from any proper source of supply is conducted into a funnel, 60, of the up per lever, and, passing thence through duct or channel 0, passes out at the rear, and drops thence into reservoir 61 of the under roll, whence, by a like duct 0, it passes through the lower lever around its journal, thus cooling it, and escapes.

Hence I claim as my invention- 1. In amachinc for forming coilsprings from metallic bars, the combination of a revolving mandrel, about which the bar is coiled, a series of two or more driving-rollers successively arranged about the mandrel, between. which and the mandrel. the metal bar is grasped and confined, and a crimping or bending lever adapted by a series of intermittent strokes to gradually bend the bar over the mandrel preparatory to the bar passing under the action of the rollers, substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. Thecombination oftheforming-mandrel, the crimping-lever pivoted on the axis of the foremost of a pair of forming-rollers. a pair of forming-rollers arranged in rear of the crimping-le'verjaw, and a collar upon said mandrel having provisions, as described, for imparting a spiral lead, under the influence of an endwise movement imparted to said collar, to the bar in the process of winding the same onto the mandrel, substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a revolving forming- Inandrel with a pair of rollers mounted in bearings capable of simultaneous and coequal adjustment toward or from said mandrel by any appropriate means, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the hollow mandrelspindle, having a tapering socket at one end to receive and hold the tapering shank of the mandrel, with a tapershanked mandrel and a retaining-rod within the center of the hollow spindle adapted to connect with the end of the mandrelshank and be securely fastened by means of a key or otherwise, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of a rotating mandrel and a loose collar upon said mandrel, having a portion of one end thereof of spiral shape and capable of both longitudinal movement upon and of rotation with said mandrel, with the provisions shown for moving said collar along the mandrel against the bar and rotating the same therewith a portion of a revolution, as a means of imparting a spiral lead to the bar, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of shaft 34, carrying trip-lever 29, counterpoise 33, and dog 32,with shaft or spindle 5, carrying plate 10, and stopping-rolls o 0, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of spindle 5, clutchcam 49, and loose sleeve 75, carrying plate 10, and wedge-can1 l1 and friction-roll 4.3, as a provision for moving collar 18 into position to impart a spiral lead to the bar, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with the lever 19, pivoted as shown, and carrying the clutch-block 35, of the cam-clutch 49 and longitudinallymovable sleeve 75, against which said block impinges to force the finished spring off the mandrel, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of the oscillating bending-lever provided with crimping-jaw having the supporting and guiding notch 65,as shown, with the forming-mandrel and driving-rollers, substantially as described and set forth.

10. The provisions shown for cooling the bending-levers, and the forming-mandrel consisting of a water-receptacle in the upper part of the lever, and ducts leading therefrom through the body of the lever to one or more convenient points of discharge, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name, at North Bennington, Ver mont, this 16th day of July, A. D. 1888.

WILLIAM G. FARN UM.

In presence of- FRANKLIN SCOTT, J. M. CLoWARD. 

